With nine days left, Rhode Island Congressional candidate David Segal has emerged as the front-runner in Democracy for America's Grassroots All-Stars competition. To those of us who have worked with David, this accomplishment is a recognition of something we already knew: David Segal is the progressive candidate to support this fall. In my opinion, he is the single most exciting candidate for Congress in years, and I hope you'll follow me below the flip to hear why.
Since his election to the Providence City Council eight years ago, including in his current role as state representative, David has advocated tirelessly on behalf of ordinary Rhode Islanders. Time and time again, he has stood up to powerful interests--such as big banks and predatory lending agencies--to secure victories for working families. He is a bold and brave legislator, exactly the kind of lawmaker we need in Washington D.C. to ensure our voice is heard.
My name is Austin King and I've known David for years and followed his work carefully. I'm lucky to know personally that he is a deeply principled person of unimpeachable integrity, as well as a master strategist and one of America's most effective legislators. In the Rhode Island Assembly, he has helped organize and lead a Progressive Bloc of legislators that has scored numerous important victories for working families. I am obviously very excited at the prospect of David joining Alan Grayson, Raul Grijalva, and the rest of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and bringing real progressive change to Congress (that's why PCCC and the RI DFA have endorsed David). I don't live in Rhode Island, but David's campaign deserves and is receiving national support from progressives exactly because of this potential.
David will be the first to tell you that he doesn't do any of this alone. David's more of a community organizer more than a politician, and he has a long history of working in coalition with grassroots organizations to fight for progressive reforms including increasing affordable housing, promoting civil rights, and creating green jobs.
A recent example is his work surrounding fair elections. David collaborated with Lawrence Lessig to organize against the recent Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which removes limits on corporate campaign contributions. Professor Lessig wrote about their efforts here.
David is more than a grassroots candidate. He is a grassroots legislator--and that is incredibly rare. Still not convinced? Read what Howie Klein had to say about David on Down With Tyranny!
David Segal is number one in this competition because he deserves to be there. And I hope you'll vote for him by July 18th at DFA Grassroots All-Stars, and again when the second round begins.
I also can't help but share a plug for my own personal fund-raising efforts for David. I'm proud that I've already recruited 69 contributors and raised $2765 for his campaign. Please consider chipping in $5 or whatever you can afford to send this progressive champion to Congress!